Safeguarding

HEJ Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our club members, and takes this seriously.

Our committee members, coaches and parent volunteers are all DBS checked and have completed the Football Association’s mandatory safeguarding, education and Respect training.

The club recognises its duty to create a fun and safe playing environment that protects everyone involved in the club from harm and abuse. HEJ Football Club understands its responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and upholds the key principles of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

In the event of any serious safeguarding complaint or issue involving any of our players, parents or volunteers, club policies will be followed and interim safeguarding measures put in place immediately, while the club’s safeguarding committee members carry out a full investigation and until the club reaches a decision.

Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officer: Tracey
If you are worried about a child, please speak to Tracey or email info@hejfc.com. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures

  1. HEJ Athletic Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care, and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document.
  2. The key principles of The FA Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
    • the child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
    • all children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or belief
    • all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
    • working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential.

    We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. HEJ Athletic Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

  3. HEJ Athletic Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) apply to everyone in football, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This means whether you are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.
  4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Responsible Recruitment guidelines for recruiting volunteers and we will:
    • specify what the role is and what tasks it involves
    • request identification documents
    • as a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible interview people before appointing them
    • ask for and follow up with 2 references before appointing someone
    • where eligible, require an FA accepted Enhanced Criminal Record Check (CRC) with Barring List Check in line with current FA policy and regulations.

    All current HEJ Athletic Football Club members working in eligible roles with children and young people – such as managers and coaches – are required to hold an in-date FA accepted Enhanced CRC with Barring List check as part of responsible recruitment practice.

    If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of HEJ Athletic Football Club, guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the CRC process and that all suitability decisions will be made in accordance with legislation and in the best interests of children and young people.

    It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

  5. HEJ Athletic Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within football can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA.com, or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC. HEJ Athletic Football Club encourages everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to use it if necessary.
  6. HEJ Athletic Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer in line with The FA’s role profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop. The post holder will be involved with Welfare Officer training provided by The FA and/or County FA. The Club Welfare Officer is the first point of contact for all club members regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The Club Welfare Officer will liaise directly with the County FA (CFA) Welfare Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of Respect, poor practice and abuse amongst club members.
  7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all players or parents/carers should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer; in cases of serious bullying the CFA Welfare Officer may be contacted. See our Anti-bullying Policy.
  8. Respect codes of conduct for Players, Parents/Spectators, Officials and Coaches have been implemented by HEJ Athletic Football Club. In order to validate these Respect codes of conduct the club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or serious misconduct at club level, and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the County FA in more serious circumstances.
  9. Reporting your concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: if you are worried about a child it is important that you report your concerns – no action is not an option.
    • If you are worried about a child, report your concerns to the Club Welfare Officer.
    • If the issue is one of poor practice, the Club Welfare Officer will either deal with the matter themselves or seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer.
    • If the concern is more serious – possible child abuse – where possible contact the CFA Welfare Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Social Care.
    • If the child needs immediate medical treatment, take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let your Club Welfare Officer know what action you have taken; they in turn will inform the CFA Welfare Officer.
    • If at any time you are not able to contact your Club Welfare Officer, or the matter is clearly serious, you can: contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly; contact The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com; contact the Police or Children’s Social Care; or call the NSPCC 24-hour helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures are available at thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding. The policy outlines in detail what to do if you are concerned about the welfare of a child, including flow diagrams that describe the process.

Further advice and contacts

Our club policies

Respect codes of conduct

Everyone at HEJ FC – players, parents, spectators and coaches – is expected to follow The FA’s Respect codes of conduct.

Download the Respect codes of conduct (PDF)

Code of conduct – spectators and parents/carers

Respect code of conduct for spectators and parents/carers

Code of conduct – young players

Respect code of conduct for young players